“Any time I can turn the game over 5-1 to our bullpen, I’m more proud about that,” said Scherzer about his strikeout-happy start. “That makes me happy because we’re going to win most of those ballgames in that situation. That’s what puts a smile on my face.”

If that’s what it takes, it’s likely been a long time since he last frowned.

Scherzer's five-hit outing moved him to 7-1 with a 3.13 ERA in his last 10 starts, lowering his season ERA to 4.27. He's not only hot, he's at a full-blown boil.

"He’s just scratched the surface," manager Jim Leyland said. "This guy is a young guy with a big, big future."

At 28 years old, Scherzer has all the tools to make him an elite superstar. But is he an ace?

Right now? No. Eventually? At times, it looks like it.

The velocity is there. He struck out Edwin Encarnacion for the final out in the third inning with a high fastball that touched 99 mph. That strikeout gave him the American League lead -- a lead previously held for three days by teammate Justin Verlander (180).

The offspeed stuff is there, too. After dialing up a high 90s fastball, Scherzer would regularly follow it with a low 80s changeup that could trick even the sliest of conmen.

David Cooper can attest to that. It was in the fourth inning that Scherzer took the strikeout lead in the majors from Mets knuckleballer R.A. Dickey with a floating 82 mph changeup that still had catcher Gerald Laird thinking he caught a fastball.

"He’s just figuring out how good he can really be," Laird said. "He’s got a good routine, and he’s pounding. He’s making adjustments. Tonight, he was just fun for me to catch."

So, what's he lacking?

"There were plenty of things that I didn’t execute completely right," Scherzer said. "I made some mistakes that I didn’t quite get punished for."

Like what?

"I wasn’t proficient with first-pitch strikes and I didn’t really throw the slider to left-handers the way I wanted to," he said. "I didn’t do some other little things that typically can make me a good pitcher."

OK, sure -- there's room for improvement. But, look at the positives. Scherzer's location was picture perfect and his two-strike pitches were spot on -- particularly with runners on base.

"That’s why I think we kept the score 5-1 by the time I left," he said.

So, what is it that sets Scherzer apart from Verlander? Easy. It's consistency.

It's eluded the right-handed throughout his five-year career and has even fled from him time to time this year.

"Consistency will be his big thing and he’s starting to show that," Leyland said. "He’s developing into a real outstanding pitcher."

Scherzer's second half has the makings of an All-Star. But that was far from true in the first half.

He entered the second half with a bloated 5.88 ERA -- due largely to four forgettable first-half starts that saw him exit before or during the fifth inning.

That issue has since been addressed, or so it appears. Scherzer has pitched six or more innings in all but two of his 13 starts since the All-Star break.

"I know that when I go out there, I know I can be really good," he said. "I know I can pitch consistently and I know I can get hitters out."

That held true Tuesday night when Scherzer matched his career high with his 184th strikeout of the season in the fifth inning. More impressive? He did it facing 176 fewer batters in 41 1/3 fewer innings pitched.

"For the most part, I’ve been pretty pleased with how I’ve pitched the whole year," he said. "I know I had some bad starts, but some things happened and you don’t let the results necessarily dictate how you feel."

Still, he's far from content. Scherzer's ceiling is as tall as the 73-floor Renaissance Center that hovers over him during each start.

"I don’t fear a single hitter in this whole league," he said. "When I bring my A-game, I can pitch well against any team -- doesn’t matter who it is."